The exhibition "My Mother's Last Words" (Gotina Dawîn Ya Dayîka Min) by artist Hogir Ar will open at the Mouches Volantes cultural center in Cologne. The exhibition will run from March 22 to April 26.

Gotina Dawîn Ya Dayîka Min is an exhibition inspired by the personal experiences of the artist Hogir Ar and the profound depths of collective memory. The exhibition addresses individual and societal traumas, oppression, and resistance. The artist tells a story rooted in the challenging experiences of his childhood. At the heart of this narrative are the words of his mother, which form the central theme of the exhibition: "Your path leads either to the grave or to prison."

These words reflect the recurring cycles in the artist’s life and the dark realities of that time. In the region of Northern Kurdistan where the artist grew up, the Kurdish people faced cultural, social, and political oppression for many years. During the 1980s and 1990s, conflicts, forced migrations, unresolved murders, and intense military control resulted in both individual and societal traumas. Within this context, Hogir Ar’s works critique state structures, societal norms, and patriarchal systems while simultaneously highlighting moments of resistance and solidarity.

The works in the exhibition are inspired by the traumas and events that have shaped the artist’s life: the peaceful struggle of the Saturday Mothers (Dayîkên Şemîyê) in their search for the disappeared, the experience of forced migration, life as a refugee, and societal inequalities. These themes form the foundation of the artist’s practice.

The exhibition not only presents a personal narrative but also offers a space for reflection on processes of resistance, questioning, and healing. Roles and narratives intertwine: Is it the artist himself, his mother, the Saturday Mothers, or all of them together? Or does this story belong to an anonymous collective memory? The artist creates a new narrative at the intersections of personal and collective memory, inviting the audience on a journey that is both challenging and thought-provoking.

Hogir Ar

Hogir Ar is a multidisciplinary artist based in Heidelberg, working across conceptual art, installation, performance, and sculpture. His artistic journey began in the city of Batman in Northern Kurdistan. At the age of 14, he published a poetry collection titled Mavi Sürgün (“The Blue Exile”), which explored themes of exile, longing, and the search for identity.

His education at the Kurdish Language Research and Development Center in Batman provided him with the opportunity to deeply engage with the Dengbêj tradition (musical storytelling). This process led him to reflect on oral history and the transmission of an oppressed language.

Hogir Ar’s art focuses on the continuity of colonialism, collective memory, and healing processes. His conceptual works combine classical aesthetics with contemporary interpretations, presenting geographical and psychological landscapes through visual storytelling.